NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
Coast Guard Ousts Mount Ida, 3-0
Mustangs cap off season with overall record of 21-10
November 9, 2006
by Mike Raposo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Nov. 9, 2006) – Sophomore Nicole Gurr (Acton, Calif.) piled up 16 kills, 16 digs and three blocks to boost the top-seeded United States Coast Guard Academy to a 3-0 (30-18, 30-15, 30-18) victory over eighth-seeded Mount Ida College this afternoon in opening round action of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Playing in their first NCAA Tournament since 1997, the Bears jumped out to early leads in all three games and never looked back. With the win, they advanced to tomorrow’s New England Regional Semifinal. They will face off against fifth-seeded Endicott College, which upset fourth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University in a thrilling five game match earlier in the day.
Senior Christine Rostowfske (Walnut, Calif.) dished out 35 assists to pace Coast Guard’s offensive attack. Junior Kim Jung (Los Angeles, Calif) tallied 11 kills, while classmate Corinne McCormack (Havertown, Pa.) collected nine kills and 14 digs. The Bears received a solid defensive effort from freshman Leanna Minton (Antioch, Calif.), who recorded 16 digs.
Playing in its third NCAA Tournament in as many years, Mount Ida was led by freshman Amanda Pereira (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford), who totaled ten kills and four digs. Classmate Brianne Cobb (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) chipped in with a match-high 17 digs, while senior Kristyn Correia (Westport, Mass./Durfree) registered 11 assists in her final collegiate outing.
Coast Guard (24-2) has now won its opening round match in all four of its NCAA Tournament appearances (1995, 1996, 1997, 2006). The Bears will be looking to move on to the third round for the first time in their program’s history when they take the court again tomorrow.
Mount Ida rounded out its 2006 campaign with an overall record of 21-10. The Mustangs posted a perfect 10-0 mark versus North Atlantic Conference opponents and captured their fifth-straight NAC Tournament Championship. The program finished out its eight-year stint in the NAC by capturing victories in its last 37 contests versus league foes. When Mount Ida resumes play next fall, it will be affiliated with the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.